thatcher



MaI'Ch 1964 H. w. THATCHER REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Ayril 2 INVENTOR. IMRR' Y WILL/Al? THATCHER. 4% Q %aaM4Z A TTORNE Y March 31, 1964 H. w. THATCHER REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2, 1962 INVENTOR. HARRY WILL/AM THATC'l-IER.

A TTORNE Y United States Patent Ofilice 3,126,923 Patented Mar. 31, 1964 3,126,923 REPLENESEHWG MEEHANISM F63 LGOMS Harry William Thatcher, Mention, Mass assignor to Draper Corporation, Hopedaie, Mass, a corporation of Maine Filed Apr. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 134,151 Claims. Jl. 139-445) This invention relates to automatic looms for weaving and, in particular, to an automatic filling replenishing mechanism for such looms.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a novel filling box or bobbin container adapted to hold a large supply of bobbins to be fed individually to a loom shuttle.

It is a more specific object to provide such a container including means for assuring a positive supply of bobbins to the shuttle in spite of possible bridging of bobbins within the container.

It is a further object to provide a container in which bobbins may be easily loaded directly from the spinning frame, filling winder or box loader by the doffer, whether manually or by automatic means, and in which the bobbins tend to remain oriented as trey are being loaded into or discharged therefrom.

It is a further object to provide a jam-proof container which includes a minimum number of parts, which is simple to assemble, and, accordingly, would be less expensive to manufacture than equivalent containers of the prior art.

Filling bobbin containers of the type with which the present invention is concerned, that is, those which are uncompartmented and which are adapted to contain a large number of bobbins, are well known. These bobbin containers are usually provided with a discharge opening for feeding bobbins individually to be transferred into a loom shuttle. Due to the necessary limitation in the size of the opening as well as to the position and weight of overlying bobbins, a bridge or arch sometimes fonns over the opening between two or more of the bobbins. United States Patent No. 2,957,497 relates to a generally box-like container for feeding bobbins to a loom shuttle wherein the container is mounted for swivel ling movement between a generally upright inactive position and a second tilted position wherein the container defines a feeding opening between one of its sides and a stationary upright member. In order to assure a continuous feed of bobbins to the loom shuttle, a lifting member is attached to the loom framework which is adapted to project into the openin. as controlled by a fairly complex piston and cylinder arrangement actuated by a pneumatic control means. A. special latch control is required to restrict upward movement of the lifting member when a bobbin falls into feed position into the lifting member. In addition to the complexity of this type of structure, an air supply means is required at each loom.

According to the present invention, a filling bobbin container is provided into which bobbins may easily be loaded or discharged while assuring the maintenance of proper orientation of bobbins, this being achieved by means of inclined plates adapted to direct bobbins toward a centrally located discharge opening. Addition-. ally, a bridge breaker door is provided integral with the container and mounted below one of the plates which is effective to break any bridge of bobbins which may form in the container and which functions only as the supply of bobbins in the bobbin chute is diminished. A very simple mechanical linkage is provided for activating the breaker door when required. The container is a type which is slidable on an inclined track and includes a means for retaining bobbins in the container until the latter is brought to a discharge position, said means then being caused to be moved to a further position to retain the bobbin container until all bobbins have been discharged at which time it then allows the container to move down the track due to loom vibration so that an adjacent filed bobbin container can move down to the discharge position where the cycle is repeated.

The invention will be described in greater detail by reference to a specific embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational View, partly in section, of the invention as seen from the end of the loom;

FIG. la is a side elevation in detail of the latch unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1, part of the bobbin box being broken away so as to illustrate more clearly the breaker door operating mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view in elevation showing the breaker door operating mechanism with the door in its lower or inactive position and as viewed from the rear of the loom;

PEG. 4 is a similar view with the door in an elevated or active position; and

FIG. 5 is a partial plan View of the containers central portion.

Now referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings reference numeral 11 generally designates the filling bobbin container which includes opposed side walls 12 and 13 and a pair of opposed end walls 14- and 15 interconnecting the side walls providing a generally box-like open construction. A pair of plate members 16 and 17 extend laterally across the container between the side walls to form a ll-shaped hopper within the bobbin box. The angle formed by the plate members and the bottom of the container is such as to facilitate easy flow of bobbins B to the bottom of the hopper and also permits bobbins to orient themselves properly as they roll toward the bottom. The lower edge of plate member 17 terminates short of plate member 16 and defines an opening 18 having a width sufiicient to permit a bobbin to pass therethrough. A rod 19 extends across the width of the container and is slidably movable in an inclined slot 29 provided in the lower part of side wall 12 and in a similar opposed slot (not shown) provided in side wall 13 and similarly inclined. Any suitable means such as a fixed washer Z1 is provided adjacent each end of the rod to restrict lateral movement thereof, a portion of which extends out beyond each side wall of the container as shown in FIG. 2 for reasons later to be explained.

When hopper 11 moves to a discharge position with respect to chute 29, that is, when opening 18 is directly above the chute entrance, rod 19 is caused to be moved from the lower to the upper part of slot 20 as acted upon by a latch unit L as shown in FIG. la. The mode of operation of this latch unit is fully disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,921,610 and forms no part of the present invention. When the rod 19 is in the lowermost part of slot 253, it is generally centrally located in opening 18 and acts to retain bobbins in the hopper, and permits release of bobbins when moved to the upper part of the slot.

Filling bobbins B may be loaded into the container directly from a spinning frame, filling winder or box loader either manually or by automatic means, and they will be prevented from dropping out of the opening 18 by the rod 19 which will assume a position in the lowermost part of slot 28 and the cooperating slot (not shown).

It will sometimes occur that, as bobbins are being fed from the filling container, a bridge or arc of bobbins will be formed within the lower part of the hopper which will prevent any further feeding of bobbins. In order to break any such bridge which may form, a so-called bridge breaker door generally designated 22 has been provided as an integral part of the container. The door is generally located beneath plate 1'7 and is pivotally mounted on a rod 23 which extends across the width of the container and which is supported by side walls 12 and 13. FIG. 1 shows the door in its inactive and lowermost position. As noted in FIGS. 2 and 5 the door extends part way only across the width of the container and includes a section 24 adjacent and parallel to the bottom plane of the container, and an end portion a part 25 of which extends generally in alignment with plate 17 and a further part 26 which extends inwardly into the hopper section. The free end of the door protrudes through a slotted opening 27 formed in the lower part of plate 17, the door in its inactive position being supported by the part 25 resting on lip formed between the slotted opening and the lowermost edge of plate 17.

The container is adapted to be mounted on a pair of track members one of which is shown at 28 and which are inclined forwardly of the loom.

A chute '29 is formed between an upper chute member 30 and a lower member 31. An indicator door 32 is attached to a pivotable rod 33 mounted in flanges extending outwardly from the upper edge of the lower chute member. Also fixedly attached to the rod 33 is a push rod bearing 34 in which is freely supported a slidable push rod 35 having a pin 36 adapted to limit downward movement of the push rod upon coming in contact with the edge of the hearing. The weight of the rod and bearing is greater than that of the door so that these parts tend to assume the dotted line position of FIG. 1, which occurs when the level of bobbins in the chute is below the indicator door. When the level of bobbins in the chute is higher than the door, then, obviously, these parts are forced into the solid line position of FIG. 1.

When the push rod is in the dotted line position of FIG. 1, it is adapted to be raised from the position shown in FIG. 3 to that of FIG. 4 by being pushed upwardly by one arm 37 of a bell crank lever pivoted at 38 on a bracket '39 attached to the track 28. The other arm 40 of the lever has its end linked to one end of a connecting rod 41, the other end of which is pivotally attached to a bracket 42 which is further fixed to an extension 43 of an extractor arm 44. Extension 43 forms an integral part of arm 44, both of which can pivot about the center 44-.

In operation, the extractor arm is caused to be moved from the solid to the dotted line positions of FIG. 2 upon an indication for transfer received from a known means, by means of a mechanism such as that disclosed in United States Patent No. 3,023,788. This movement effects lifting of bell crank arm 37 which, in turn, acts upon the push rod if the latter is in the dotted line position of FIG. 1, which position indicates a level of bobbins in the chute below thedndicator door. The rod, in turn, acts upon the portion 24 of the breaker door to urge the latter upwardly to break the bridge of bobbins and to allow bobbins to be fed into the chute.

If the level of bobbin is higher than the indicator door, the push rod is urged by bobbins in the chute to its solid line position wherein the lower end of the rod is out of contact with arm 37 and the latter merely makes an idle movement upon an indication for transfer. In this manner the bobbins in the container are not disturbed except when necessary, that is, when they are not being fed to the chute.

The bobbin box is retained in its feeding position with its opening directly above the chute entrance by a latching mechanism such as that disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,921,610, until the container is depleted of bobbins. The latching mechanism in cooperation with the rod 19 allows the container to move to a lower position on the track, while at the same time permitting an adjacent filled bobbin container to move to a feeding position.

When the level of bobbins in the chute falls below a predetermined point, a signal is transmitted by a linkage means to the latch unit L to effect release thereof and thereby to permit the empty hopper to move down the track. See United States Patent No. 2,921,610 for further details.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

ii claim:

1. A filling bobbin container for automatic looms which comprises a pair of opposed side walls and a further pair of opposed end walls interconnecting said side walls, a pair of inclined plate members extending between said side walls and defining a generally V-shaped hopper within said filling container, the lowermost edges of said plate members being spaced apart sufliciently to define an opening to allow a single bobbin to pass therethrough, a pair of opposed, angularly inclined slots in said side walls, a bobbin retaining rod slidable in said slots and effective to restrain bobbins in said hopper in its lowermost position in said slots, a bridge breaker door pivotally mounted between said side walls and below one of said plate members and having an effective end portion movable between a first position wherein a part at least of said end portion is substantially in alignment with said one plate member and a second position inwardly of said filling container.

2. A filling bobbin container for automatic looms which comprises a pair of opposed side walls and a further pair of opposed end walls interconnecting said side walls, a pair of inclined plate members extending between said side walls and defining a generally V-shaped hopper within said filling container, the lowermost edges of said plate members being spaced apart sufficiently to define an opening to allow a single bobbin to pass therethrough, a pair of opposed, angularly inclined slots in said side wall, a bobbin retaining rod slidable in said slots and effective to restrain bobbins in said hopper in its lowermost position in said slots, a bridge breaker door pivotally mounted between said side walls and below one of said plate members and having an effective end portion movable between a first position wherein a part at least of said end portion is substantially in alignment with said one plate member and a second position inwardly of said filling container, said opening being substantially centrally disposed between said end walls, and said end portion extending in part internally of said one plate member when said door is in said first position.

3. A filling bobbin replenishing mechanism which comprises a filling container including a pair of opposed side walls, a further pair of opposed end walls interconnecting said side walls, a pair of inclined plate members extending between said side walls and defining a generally V-shaped hopper within said filling container, the lowermost edges of said plate members being spaced apart suificiently to define an opening to allow a single bobbin to pass there-through, a bridge breaker door pivotally mounted between said side walls and below one of said plate members, a supply chute adapted to contain a number of bobbins to be fed individually to a loom shuttle, said supply chute being located immediately below said opening, and a pivotally mounted indicator door for operating said breaker door only when the level of bobbins in said supply chute reaches a predetermined pomt.

4. A filling bobbin replenishing mechanism which comprises a filling container including a pair of opposed side walls, a further pair of opposed end walls interconnecting said side walls, a pair of inclined plate members extending between said side walls and defining a generally V-shaped hopper within said filling container, the lowermost edges of said plate members being spaced apart sufficiently to define an opening to allow a single bobbin to pass therethrough, a bridge breaker door pivotally mounted between said side walls and below one of said plate members, a supply chute adapted to contain a number of bobbins to be fed individually to a loom shuttle, said supply chute being located immediately below said opening, and means for operating said breaker door only when the level of bobbins in said supply chute reaches a predetermined point, said means for operating said door comprising an indicator door pivotally mounted in said supply chute to be actuated by bobbins as they pass therethrough, a push rod in relatively fixed relation to said indicator door, and means eifective upon said push rod adapted to function upon an indication for transfer.

5. A filling bobbin replenishing mechanism which comprises a filling container including a pair of opposed side walls, a further pair of opposed end walls interconnecting said side walls, a pair of inclined plate members extending between said side Walls and defining a generally V-shaped hopper within said filling container, the lowermost edges of said plate members being spaced apart sufficiently to define an opening to allow a single bobbin to pass therethrough, a bridge breaker door pivotally mounted between said side walls and below one of said plate members, a supply chute adapted to contain a number of bobbins to be fed individually to a loom shuttle, said supply chute being located immediately below said opening, and means for operating said breaker door only when the level of bobbins in said supply chute reaches a predetermined point, said means :for operating said door comprising an indicator door pivotally mounted in said supply chute to be actuated by bobbins as they pass therethrough, a push rod in relatively fixed relation to said indicator door, said push rod tending to assume a position wherein it Will be effective upon said breaker door, an extractor arm adapted to function upon a bobbin to be transferred, and a linkage means connected to said arm and adapted to actuate said push rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,241,388 Imbert Sept. 25, 1917 1,293,030 "Carter Feb. 4, 1919 2,842,165 Weaver July 8, 1958 

1. A FILLING BOBBIN CONTAINER FOR AUTOMATIC LOOMS WHICH COMPRISES A PAIR OF OPPOSED SIDE WALLS AND A FURTHER PAIR OF OPPOSED END WALLS INTERCONNECTING SAID SIDE WALLS, A PAIR OF INCLINED PLATE MEMBERS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS AND DEFINING A GENERALLY V-SHAPED HOPPER WITHIN SAID FILLING CONTAINER, THE LOWERMOST EDGES OF SAID PLATE MEMBERS BEING SPACED APART SUFFICIENTLY TO DEFINE AN OPENING TO ALLOW A SINGLE BOBBIN TO PASS THERETHROUGH, A PAIR OF OPPOSED, ANGULARLY INCLINED SLOTS IN SAID SIDE WALLS, A BOBBIN RETAINING ROD SLIDABLE IN SAID SLOTS AND EFFECTIVE TO RESTRAIN BOBBINS IN SAID HOPPER IN ITS LOWERMOST POSITION IN SAID SLOTS, A BRIDGE BREAKER DOOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS AND BELOW ONE OF SAID PLATE MEMBERS AND HAVING AN EFFECTIVE END PORTION MOVABLE BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION WHEREIN A PART AT LEAST OF SAID END PORTION IS SUBSTANTIALLY IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID ONE PLATE MEMBER AND A SECOND POSITION INWARDLY OF SAID FILLING CONTAINER. 